Author Topic: F6F-5 Armament (Read 484 times)

SKJohn · « **on:** December 12, 2005, 01:47:32 AM »

Today I was reading the book "Hellcat" by Barrett Tillman. In the notes on p. 21, he writes "...all F6f-5 with provisions for three .50-cal. MG, or two .50-Cal. MG and one 20 mm in each wing; all late model F6F-5N's delivered with mixed battery..."
Was the -5N model too late to see combat in WWII? I had never even realized that the Hellcats had 20 mm's until reading this. I'm assuming that if they did see comabt, they were not that common - something along the lines of the C-Hog (200 or so made?).
Has anybody else heard of 20 mm armed Hellcats?

P.S. - I'd hate to be around Greebo if he had 20 mm's in his Hellcat...it's bad enough with just the .50's!

Debonair · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2005, 02:46:20 AM »

Look for a book by F6F nightfighter pilot Bruce Porter titled Ace for more about these

justin_g · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2005, 03:20:23 AM »

Here's some previous threads about this topic

F6f?
Question regarding F6F-5c Hellcat
F6F-5 and 20mm

SKJohn · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2005, 11:49:41 AM »

Thanks Justin - guess I should've done a search myself.
After reading thru your links, I think I understand that the 20 mm's were only used on the night fighters, were not very common, and tended to have a jamming problem.
Now I understand why that loadout is not an option in AH.
THanks again!

Saxman · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2005, 03:27:55 PM »

Also check out Aces Against Japan. One of the accounts there is by a (MARINE CORPS!) F6F-5N pilot who was I THINK the only all-nightfighter ace of the war. His fighter had the 20mm. GREAT story on how nightfighter tactics in the Pacific worked.

killnu · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2005, 03:47:36 PM »

it was not only the nightfighter that had 20mm. read those links again.

but it was a different version F6F than we have in AH that had 20mm option.

humble · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2005, 05:16:37 PM »

The F6F was designed with the 20mm loadout from the very beginning. It was simply not utilized widely. All 900 F6F delivered to the british had the 20mm option. So did all N & P as well as many late war F6F-5's. I'm not sure if any of the F6F-5's so equipped reached frontline service but the last production runs were 2 x 20mm equipped. This was not a late model addition....even the F6F-3 was factory configured for the 2 x 20mm and it could any/all F6F's were easily converted in the field if desired....

Widewing · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2005, 06:16:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by killnu
it was not only the nightfighter that had 20mm. read those links again.

but it was a different version F6F than we have in AH that had 20mm option.

The F6F-5N is just a radar equipped F6F-5. You will find that when max effort raids were conducted off of Japan, the F6F-5Ns were loaded with bombs and flew ordinary combat sorties. They were a bit heavier than the standard Hellcat, but performance was only slightly reduced. On the other hand, a pair of Hispanos added substantially to their lethality.

I have yet to see any photographic evidence that any standard F6F-5 saw combat with cannon. That doesn't mean that none were so fitted, but the odds are high against it.

My regards,

Widewing

Bodhi · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2005, 08:24:01 PM »

All -5 F6F were produced with wings that could handle the 20mm.

Simply put, they did not swap them out because the pilot's were so fond of the .50's.

It's kind of like the F4u-4's being built with a wing to handle a single 20mm and two .50's. They were yet it was rarely used. *Note* The 4 cannon wing is different then the wing I am describing here.

Debonair · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2005, 10:59:13 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Widewing
The F6F-5N is just a radar equipped F6F-5. You will find that when max effort raids were conducted off of Japan, the F6F-5Ns were loaded with bombs and flew ordinary combat sorties. They were a bit heavier than the standard Hellcat, but performance was only slightly reduced. On the other hand, a pair of Hispanos added substantially to their lethality.

I have yet to see any photographic evidence that any standard F6F-5 saw combat with cannon. That doesn't mean that none were so fitted, but the odds are high against it.

My regards,

Widewing

I've longed a long time on the 'net for that phtographic evidence without result (except I saw a lot of nice photos of a spectacular aircraft)